Buyers from across Queensland and northern New South Wales secured Doughtmaster genetics from the Annual Roma Tropical Breeds Sale today which saw a top of $30,000.
In total, 120 of 131 bulls sold for a 92 per cent clearance and an average of $5596.
It was lot 59, Eversleigh Juggernaut, offered by Roger and Jenny Underwood, Pine Hills, Wallumbilla who topped the sale when he was purchased by Michael and Tracey Flynn, Valera Vale, Charleville for $30,000.
At just 20-months-old, Juggernaut weighed 790 kilograms with an eye muscle area of 144cm sq and P8 and rib fat depths of 11 and eight millimetres.
Valera Vale stud principal Michael Flynn said they expected Juggernaut to make more than he did.
“When we bought him we broke all our rules,” he said.
“We don’t buy bulls that aren’t morphology tested and poll gene tested but he was that good of a bull we couldn’t pass him up.
“He was really a complete package for us, clean poll, reasonable Brahman content, flatback, long, great muscle pattern and a good sheath and unfathomable temperament.”
Not only was the $30,000 price a record for the Underwoods in their second Roma appearance, it was a sweet reward having moved to Wallumbilla when they sold their Hughenden properties in November 2015 following years of drought.
Juggernaut was a son of Clonlara 06101 whom the Underwood’s purchased in 2007 from the McCormack family’s on-property sale for $15,000, the equal top price of the sale.
The Clonlara bull spent most of his time as a single sire in the Underwood’s herd and had up to 50 breeders running with him, even as they battled drought.
“This bull (Juggernaut) just reminds us a lot of him,” Ms Underwood said.
“Juggernaut’s mother got in calf as a young heifer and has just been a consistent breeder ever since. She has been joined to him (Clonlara 06101) for basically all her life.”
The Underwoods sold a total of 10 bulls to average $9050 and had received strong enquiry for their bulls, Ms Underwood said thanks largely to social media.
Second top price of the sale was lot 100, Karragarra Natural, offered by Wayne and Ingrid York, Emerald, who sold for $14,000 to the Carrington family, Rondel Droughtmasters, Winton.
Natural was a 22-month-old who weighed 743 kilograms with P8 and rib fat depths of 14 and 10 millimetres and eye muscle area of 126cm sq.
This year’s sale, which only featured Droughtmaster bulls, was slightly down on last year’s average of $6182 for 103 bulls which saw a clearance rate of 93 per cent.
Droughtmaster Australia CEO Neil Donaldson said the breed’s offering had increased by 30 per cent this year so a softening in the average could be expected but the strong clearance was still pleasing.
“Bulls went to all over Queensland, down into the south east corner, up to central Queensland and out to north west Queensland and western Queensland and even a few into New South Wales,” he said.
“It was a great cross section of buyers and quite a few new buyers plus all the regulars. We had an extra 15 per cent bid cards.
“It was really pleasing to see a lot of Droughtmaster genetics going into the Taroom and Wandoan area where they necessarily haven’t been as popular in the past.”
Repeat buyers Clark and Tait, Barcaldine Downs Pastoral Co, walked away with seven bulls from the sale to average $5571.
Reynella Grazing Co, Reynella, Charleville, weren’t far behind them, purchasing six bulls to average $6583.
Selling agents: Elders, Landmark and GDL